who sought to destroy me are dead."
She was face-to-face with reality again. The other night, in front of the fire, it had all seemed magical, romantic, a fairy tale.
"You killed those others?"
"Of course."
"Would you kill Edward?"
"That choice is his."
"But how? If they come after you in the daytime... I mean, I thought vampires were helpless when the sun is up."
"No. It is natural for us to sleep during the day, but only the very young are helpless. I can sense the presence of others when I sleep. The instinct to survive is as strong with us as with you. I have yet to meet a mortal I could not defeat."
She shivered, suddenly cold clear through as she pictured Edward bending over Grigori, his eyes blazing with righteous zeal as he plunged a wooden stake through the vampire's heart.
He didn't have to read her mind to know what she was thinking. Opening one of the side compartments, he withdrew a bottle of red wine. He filled two glasses, warmed one with his gaze, and handed it to Marisa.
"Drink this," he said, "and then we will speak of something more pleasant."
She did as he suggested. The wine warmed her, made her feel sleepy and relaxed.
He smiled at her over the rim of his glass. "Better?"
"Yes, much."
When she was finished, he put their glasses aside, and drew her into his arms. "We'll be home soon."
Home. Never had the word sounded so good.
They reached her apartment a short time later. The chauffeur carried her luggage up the stairs. Grigori carried Marisa. She had protested that she could walk, but he had insisted on carrying her. And now she was sitting on his lap on the sofa. He had started a fire in the fireplace simply by willing it to happen.
"You'd be great to have along on a camping trip," Marisa remarked. "I'd never have to worry about remembering to bring matches."
Grigori grunted softly. "I'm afraid I've never been camping."
"No, I guess not."
She slid her arm around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. "I wish I didn't have to go to work tomorrow."
"I thought you liked your job."
"Oh, I do. But every time I get a few days off, I start to get lazy."
"If you don't want to go, stay home."
"Yeah, right."
"I mean it. Quit your job if you are not happy there."
"I can't do that! I've got bills to pay, you know. Rent, things like that."
"Come live with me, cara. Let me take care of you."
She looked up at him as a new thought occured to her. "Where do you get all your money from? You don't seem to have a job."
He shrugged. "If one is wise, one can accumulate a great deal of wealth in two hundred years."
"I guess so."
"Come, cara, let me take care of you."
It was tempting, oh, so tempting. She considered it for all of sixty seconds, then regretfully shook her head.
"I'd like to, but I can't." She saw the question in his eyes and covered his mouth with her hand. "It's not because you're a vampire. It has nothing to do with you. It's me. I told you before, I don't sleep around."
He lifted her hand from his mouth and kissed it. "I'm not asking you to sleep with me." His tongue stroked her palm, sending shivers racing up and down her spine. "I'm only asking you to share my home, let me take care of you. There's no need for you to work."
"But what would I do all day?"
"Whatever you want." He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, delighting in the softness of her skin. The siren call of her blood teased his hunger as surely as the warm womanly scent of her body teased his desire. "Go shopping. Sleep late. Employ a masseuse. Sit in the sun. Stroll on the beach. Take long walks in the park." He smiled at her. "In the morning."
She gazed up at him, her heart breaking because, even if she could accept his offer, he would never be able to sit in the sun with her, or walk hand in hand along the beach, or stroll through the park on a warm summer day.
"I appreciate the offer, really I do, but I can't. I'd miss working, and I like having money of my own. You're not mad, are you?"
"No, cara."
His lips grazed her cheek, the tip of her nose, then slid down to cover her mouth. His arm tightened around her waist as he deepened the